Fireworks at the piano with Rachmaninov 3

Edward Elgar couldn't have chosen a better title for his Meditation, an orchestral prelude to his monumental choral work, The Light of Life. This brief orchestral piece serves as a captivating introduction to the two romantic masterpieces on the program. Armenian-American piano virtuoso Sergej Babajan tackles one of the most challenging piano works in musical history with Sergei Rachmaninov's Third Piano Concerto. The concerto shines with its rich melodies and harmonies, showcasing Rachmaninoff's mastery. Despite its brilliance, the concerto's minor key and overall atmosphere reveal the composer's fascination with mortality. Similarly, Camille Saint-Saëns expresses his fear of the end times in his Third Symphony, weaving the Dies Irae motif throughout the entire composition. Dubbed the Organ Symphony, it features a majestic instrument adding color and grandeur to the second movement and an unforgettable finale where organ and orchestra unleash their full power—a grand emotional experience not to be missed.